Utility bags



June 7, 1955 s. H. MARKS UTILITY BAGS Fi1d April 21, 1955 INVENTOR.

JTTO NEY UTILITY BAGS Saul H. Marks, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Phoenix Closet Accessories, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 21, 1953, Serial No. 350,043

1 Claim. ((1150-28) This invention relates to a flexible utility bag for the storage of articles of various types and kinds and, particularly, a bag structure having a separable fastener closure at the upper portion thereof for drawing the sides of the bag in assembled relationship to each other. More particularly, the invention deals with a bag structure of the character described having a central longitudinal partitioning member extending a greater portion of the height of the bag with means forming pockets fixed to the ends of the bag and disposed on one surface of said partitioning member, particularly wherein said partitioning member is secured at its lower end to the bag at the juncture of one side wall and part of end walls to the bottom wall of the bag.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a bag made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bag in opened position.

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;, and

6 is a partial section on the line 66 of Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale.

In practice, I provide what I term a utility bag, that is to say, a small satchel-type bag which can be utilized for the storage of various articles. For example, the bag can be utilized for the support of nursing bottles or other bottled goods, the same being supported in the pockets which are provided and the partition centrally of the bag facilitates dividing the interior of the bag into two distinct useful compartments and, by constructing the walls, as well as the partition of the bag of waterproof material, a distinct line of separation can be made between wet or damp articles and dry articles. This latter feature adapts the bag to many practical uses. It will also be apparent that the bag may be used for convenient carrying of footwear, toilet articles or in carrying photographic equipment, the pockets employed being advantageous in such latter instances.

In the drawing, 10 represents a firm or rigid bottom wall construction, comprising an oblong board 11, having rounded end portions, the board being faced by inner and outer facings 12 and 13, note Fig. 4. Fixed to the board, adjacent corner portions thereof, are rubber or other cushioned feet 14 which protrude slightly below the bottom wall 10. Suitably secured to the peripheral edges of the facings l2 and 13 are front and r ar side wall portions 15 and 16, these portions including integral end wall parts, designated by the reference characters 15', 16, as noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The walls 15 and 16, or the integral ends 15', 16', are joined in single center seams 17, in which seams side edge portions of a partia tent O "ice tion wall member 18 are also secured. The lower edge portion of the partition member 18 is secured to the seams where the side wall 16 joins the bottom wall 10, as for example, at 19, diagrammatically noted in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

No attempt is made to specifically disclose the seam attachment of the respective walls, as this is done in conventional manner well known in the art. It is only important to point out that the member 18 is so attached as to form a large compartment 20 at the rear side of the bag which is definitely sealed with respect to the front compartment 21, so that articles arranged in the cornpartment 20 can be protected with respect to engagement of articles in the pocket 21, at least at the lower portion of the bag.

It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 4 of the drawing, that the member 18 extends to a point slightly above the vertical center of the bag, but below the ends 22 of the top opening of the bag. Considering Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be apparent that the side walls 15, 16 contract at their upper ends in forming the bag opening and this opening is controlled by a suitable separable fastener 23 which extends from one end 22 of the opening to the other end 22 of said opening. In the seams 17, adjacent the ends 22, are arranged outwardly extending pull tabs 24 which will facilitate movement of the slider 25 of the fastener 23 from the closed to the opened position and vice versa.

in order to produce an attractive appearance and to give added wearing properties to the bag, the upper portion of the walls 15 and 16 are covered by decorative facing sheets 26 and 27 which extend down to a point slightly below the center of the bag, as clearly noted in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Secured to the side walls of the bag, adjacent the upper end, are handle supporting loops 28, with which handles 29, 29' are attached for convenient carrying of the bag, the handles also serving to support the side walls at the upper end portion of the bag in a spaced relationship to each other, particularly if the bag is heavily packed. In this latter instance, it will be understood that the sides of the bag will flex outwardly and assume a position more or less within the width of the bottom wall 10, noting this wall as it appears in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The upper edge of the partition member 18 is hemmed, as seen at 30, and this hemmed edge portion is preferably shirred, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing and within the hem is disposed an elastic 31, note Fig. 6 of the drawing. This facilitates movement of the member 18 within the bag to increase the size of the compartment 21 or to decrease the size of the compartment 21, while decreasing or increasing the size of the compartment 20. The elastic 31 normally supports the upper edge of the member 18 centrally between the side seams 17, as noted in Fig. 3

" of the drawing but, by virtue of the extensibility of the edge 30, it will appear that this upper edge can be moved either to the left or to the right, as noted in Fig. 3.

Also secured in the side seams 17 are two pockets 32 and 33, note Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. These pockets are open only at the top and are preferably positioned slightly above the bottom wall 10, as noted in Fig. 4, and the pockets can be utilized for the storage of articles of any type or kind in upright position within the bag. As previously stated, nursing and other bottle goods can be supported in this manner. On the other hand, the compartments may be utilized for the reception of footwear or for the storage of other articles to be maintained in a predetermined or definite position within the bag and with respect to the compartments 20 and 21. The pockets are so arranged as to be normally positioned in the compartment 21.

It will be apparent, from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing, that, when the fastener 23 is opened, a large top opening is formed, giving free access to the interior of the bag. It will also be apparent that the handle members 29, 29 are sufficiently large so as to be brought together, even in the expansion of the sides of the bag when the bag is heavily packed.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A utility bag of the character described, defined by a rigid bottom wall and all flexible side Walls, said side Walls including end wall extensions joined in central end seams terminating at upper corner portions of said side Walls, the side walls, including their end extensions, being fixed to peripheral edges of the bottom wall, the top of the bag being open, a separable fastener closing said opening, handle members secured to the upper portion of both side Walls and extending above the upper edges of said side walls, a central longitudinal partition member arranged in the bag and secured to said end seams and the bottom wall where one of the side walls is secured thereto, and said partition member extending the major portion of the height of the bag and dividing the interior of the lower portion of the bag into independent compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,618,955 Gotisar Feb. 22, 1927 1,756,764 Samstag Apr. 29, 1930 2,299,673 Zolkind Oct, 20, 1942 

